Goal Setting for the New Year

Hey Galionites,

As we approach the end of what's been an ... interesting ... year, I wanted to check in and see how everyone is doing.

New Years Resolutions and Goals Image by h kama from Pixabay

Me... I'm doing my best to look ahead to the coming year and put this... disaster of a year... in the rear view mirror.

Do You Set New Years Resolutions?

I think New Years Resolutions are an interesting concept, and I always wonder how others feel about them.

I don't set resolutions, personally, because they're so easily cast aside - usually within a day or two.

I do, however, set goals, which I frequently revisit and adjust.

I go with goal setting over resolutions because it matches the way I think, and, I guess, the things I learned about way back when I was in college.

I tend to stick with goals - or at least revisit and adjust them - whereas I don't stick with resolutions.

I don't want to waste your time chatting about my goals for the new year, though.

What's the Difference Between Setting Goals and Making Resolutions?

When you set goals, you're looking at and comparing where you are to where to you want to be, whereas making a resolution is focused on something you want.

Making a resolution is more like wishing than putting your mental beans behind figuring out how to change anything in your world.

The difference, applying a realistic assessment, is one of the things that makes it more likely that a goal will succeed compared a resolution.

There are also steps involved in goal setting, and if you put in the thought effort and list the steps you need to follow to achieve your goals, then you basically have a checklist you can use when you're working toward your goals.

Mental Beans and Making a Goal-Setting Checklist

Goal setting checklist Image by Markus Winkler from Pixabay

Setting goals can be challenging because it requires honestly evaluating your current situation and choosing the thing or things you most want to change.

1. Evaluate your starting point.

Being honest with yourself about things you don't like - about yourself - can be tough.

2. Choose your destination - a.k.a. your goal.

To make a map, you need to know your destination so you don't end up running around in circles with no end.

3. Break your major goal into smaller, actionable steps and list them.

This step is so important, because it gives you clear things you can do to achieve your goal.

4. Add dates to have each step completed.

And, also set a date to reassess in case you need to adjust the steps or dates on the steps.

Some Final Thoughts on New Years Goal Setting

So, you're probably wondering what this has to do with Galion.

Well, people everywhere tend to put a lot of emphasis on setting New Year's Resolutions, and Galionites are no different, right?

Especially after the kind of year 2020 has been it's normal to want to start fresh with 2021 and some great new, potentially life-changing goals!

If you're setting goals (or making resolutions) for the new year, I wish you the best of luck in succeeding.

If you're not, I get it, some years I don't either.

Either way, I wish you and your loved ones a happy and prosperous new year, and I hope everything you want from the new year comes to pass!

Happy New Year 2021 Image by Ljiljana Smilevski from Pixabay

Tips for Dealing With Stress When Dealing With the Unknown

I don't get to post here on Galionite as often as I would like, and when I found myself with a bit of extra time this morning, I thought I would pop in with an update.

Image by Mabel Amber from Pixabay

Since coronavirus kind of makes it feel like life is on hold, and the whole year of 2020 has pretty much been one disaster after another, dealing with stress when dealing with the unknown is the first thing that came to mind as a topic to cover.

3 Doctor Approved Tips for Dealing With Stress

First I want to share some tips stress relief from Web MD - but with some ideas of my own on how to take of advantage of them here in Galion.

1. Exercise for Stress Relief

One of the great things about small town life in a city like Galion is you can choose from a variety of active things to do. (I guess they're mostly walking-based since I haven't checked in to see if the Community Center is open yet.)

Good sidewalks in most areas make it easy to walk or jog around town. The parks offer plenty of room to move around in the fresh air. There are also the reservoirs to explore and, of course, the new bike trail.

2. Practice Deep Breathing for Less Stress

Taking a few deep breaths can make you feel calmer, it can also help you reset your thoughts. When you're dealing with uncertainty and don't know what to do, it can help to step away and inhale deeply. Try thinking about something other than whatever stresses you out, and come back to it when you're feeling more at ease.

The parks are a great place to try this if you can get away. if you can't get out, this can be easy as slipping off to the bathroom or even hiding in a dark closet for a few minutes.

3. Ease Stress by Enjoying a Favorite Hobby

Immersing yourself in a hobby is a pleasant way to escape stress for a bit, and there are places in Galion where you can pick up some hobby and craft supplies. For example, if you enjoy crafting, Dollar Tree crafts are hugely popular and can be a blast to make.

I've also found supplies for different hobbies at the Goodwill store, though that's a toss up because they have different things every time, and at Drug Mart.

Gardening for Stress Relief

Gardening is a comforting way to unwind and enjoy a break from the stress of dealing with the unknown. When you relieve stress by gardening, it's also a way to practice earthing, or grounding which can help with a number of ailments, according to some experts.

"According to numerous experts, including some who prepared a report on earthing for the NCBI website, contact with the earth can help with a variety of ailments, including chronic inflammation, wounds that heal slowly, and autoimmune disorders." - Quote from Intrinsic Vicissitude

Thanks for visiting Galionite, be sure to stop back soon, and I hope this short post added something positive to your day!

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and the Economy: Updated August 28, 2020

While I would have been okay with being wrong... as I predicted on August 1, 2020 ...

"Already, there are signs of consumer stress from the loss of $600 in extra unemployment aid last month. Those benefits, directed by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act, provided income worth $1.2 trillion on an annualized basis, according to Oxford Economics. Without that aid, personal income will decline 5%, or below pre-pandemic levels, its economists said last month. ... Expect more pain ahead, economists are warning. ... "President Donald Trump's executive orders are providing even less relief to households than initially expected in the absence of a more comprehensive fiscal aid package," Oxford Economics Lead Economist Nancy Vanden Houten said in a research note. "The steep decline in federal support for unemployed workers and heightened uncertainty will depress consumer confidence and spending."" - Microsoft News

I enjoy the study of economics and would like to chat a bit about the effect of pandemic unemployment assistance - as well as the likely effect on the economy of both the country - and the local area around Galion and Crawford County - due to it running out yesterday with no resolution.

Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay

What Is Pandemic Unemployment Assistance?

To summarize, people receiving unemployment have been receiving an extra $600 per week on top of the existing unemployment benefit each week - which is a minimum of $189 and goes up based on income = or $789 + per week - since the start of the pandemic.

The program providing this is referred to as pandemic unemployment assistance, or PUA for short.

PUA is an unemployment benefit that's only available during times of emergency, in this case, the coronavirus pandemic.

Some Boring but Important US Economic Stats

In the US, over 14.7 million people were unemployed and getting this benefit as of June 2020, according to The Balance.
Using the 14.7 million figure and minimum of $189 base, that means over $11,598,300,000 PER WEEK has been dropping into the US economy.
Even more significant than the huge amount of cash being distributed is the fact that this amount has been put directly into the hands of the people who are most likely to spend it quickly - and the economy STILL dropped by almost 33-percent.
An almost thirty-three percent drop in one quarter is the fastest drop in the history of this country.

Looking at those statistics, my question is: Since the economy is collapsing at a record rate - far beyond even that of the Great Depression, with over $11.5 billion being dumped into it each week: What is going to happen to the economy when the effect of that weekly PUA benefit ending takes over the economy?

He Said, She Said and Pointing Fingers

The Democrats threw out the first pitch and the Republicans basically said, "Meh... Whatever..." and let the ball drop.

So, going back a bit to fill in details, the Democratic House put together a proposal - the HEROES Act - over 10 weeks ago (as of August 1, 2020) to keep the PUA benefit going as well as several other vital economic factors, though the Republican Senate refused to consider it at all, saying things like the PUA encouraged people to not work.

This is a good point about people wanting to make the higher amount of money, even by being off work, however, it misses the most important points:

Point One - there's a global pandemic taking lives of people of all ages, leaving a wide swath of devastation, and many, many jobs are simply gone forever, and
Point Two - some unemployed people are getting and spending far more money than they normally would, and even increased spending isn't stopping or really even slowing the collapse of the US economy!

This past week, the Republicans finally grudgingly threw the ball, back to the Democrats.

So, the Republican's refused to even negotiate for over 10 weeks, until this past week, when they threw a cobbled-together proposal - the HEALS Act - out offering a lower PUA benefit.

This was new partisan proposal promptly dismissed by the Democratic House as being far too small to help the American people, so the Republicans pointed to the Democrats' unwillingness to accept the relatively insignificant piecemeal plan proposed by the Republicans, suggesting the Democrats are at fault.

However, the Republican finger pointing is pointless because they have had over 10 weeks to begin negotiations and refused to even consider how to slow or prevent the collapsing of the economy that was only just barely bolstered by PUA benefits - - up until yesterday.

Using non-partisan thinking and simple logic - the thing is, all of the 'he said, she said' and Republican finger pointing is irrelevant - it's just a distraction from the real problem or problems:

Mainly, the economy is collapsing in spite of massive amounts of money being dumped into it and the ending extended PUA benefits are going to bring things quickly to a head.

Bringing the Economic Stats to the Local Area

Using the Ohio numbers to bring in a more local aspect, according to Cleveland.com, Ohio's jobless numbers held steady at 423,452 for the week ending on July 25, 2020.

So, going back to the $789 minimum PUA unemployment benefit each person on unemployment received, that amounted to $334,103,628+ per week entering the Ohio economy.

As of May 2020, the Ohio economy was facing a $777 million shortfall, and that was with the $334,103,628+ per week being dumped into it. In response to the shortfall, Governor DeWine began looking at major budget cuts to programs that benefit the poor and elderly and education.

Going back again to pandemic unemployment assistance and the economy, since that's what this essay is about, my projections for the local economy when the PUA benefit is no longer flowing into the economy, are a bit dire just like my nationwide economic predictions.

Obviously, the extended unemployment benefits can't flow into the economy endlessly, however, the money is a lifeline - not only for the individuals receiving it but also for the economy as a whole, which affects every single person in the state and the country.

And, it's a lifeline that's barely keeping the sinking economy afloat, so it technically should remain in force until the pandemic is over, or until the virus is under control - however long that takes.

As someone who enjoys the subject of economics, and who took every economics course available in college while also reading economics books for fun (I still do that) - I'm first to say I have no claim to be an expert on this topic, though I do believe I have a solid understanding of how economics work - both in regard to the soft science of economic theory and the more-concrete topic of economic history.

So, what's the answer?

I'm not proposing one, though I encourage CIVIL, non-partisan discussion about the topic in the comments here on Galionite or on the Galionite Facebook page. I have no clout in the greater scheme of things, so suggesting a solution would be a waste of energy. I'm just a writer who's managing a small blog about Galion in my spare time.

Thanks for visiting Galionite, feel free to browse around the site and stop back often to see the latest updates.

Galion Ohio Coronavirus Update: July 22, 2020

Today, July 22, 2020, Governor DeWine implemented a statewide requirement to wear a mask in public places starting at 6:00pm on July 23rd.

This comes after President Trump's announcement yesterday that he believes wearing a mask is the patriotic thing to do (though he mentioned that he probably won't wear one...)

My last coronavirus update about ways to help slow the spread of Covid-19 was on April 3, 2020, so a few months have passed - and what a few months it's been!

The Current Ohio Face Mask Order

According to a news release from ABC6:

"Under the order, masks must be worn at all times when:
At an indoor location that is not a residence.
Outdoors, when unable to maintain 6 feet of social distancing.
When waiting for riding, driving, or operating public transportation.
DeWine said the order only requires those 10 and older to wear and mask. The order also includes exceptions for people who do not need to wear a mask:
Those with a medical condition or disability or those communicating with someone with a disability.
Those who are actively exercising or playing sports.
Those who are officiants at religious services.
Those who are actively involved in public safety.
Those who are actively eating or drinking."

How Much Can Refusing to Wear a Mask in Public Cost YOU?

The potential fine for not wearing a mask in Ohio is $750.

While it's currently unknown if the mandate will be enforced locally, it's noteworthy that it creates an easy option for municipalities, such as Galion, to increase revenue - which may be sadly needed due to reductions in income taxes due to Covid-19 shutdowns.

Face Masks: Dividing the Country?

While the number of coronavirus cases in Galion and surrounding Crawford County, Ohio has remained low when compared to other parts of the state and country, the polarization over the existence of the virus and the topic of wearing a mask to protect yourself and others has been immense.

Instead of being treated as an opportunity to protect others and our families, it has developed into a mainly Republican vs Democrat issue - with many Republicans declaring Covid-19 a hoax and refusing to wear masks while many Democrats are following the science and wearing a mask to help prevent the spread of a disease that has already killed over 144,000 Americans, as of today.

The Role of Panic Buying in the Mask Debate

Another part of the divide began in the early days of coronavirus being announced in the US, when people were hoarding toilet paper, food, cleaning supplies, and anything else they could get in the mad rush on the stores.

In an effort to keep individuals from buying up all the PPE (personal protective equipment), such as face masks, the government announced that face masks wouldn't help prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Early Indicators That Cloth Facemasks Are Effective Against Covid

One telling sign about the effectiveness of cloth face masks, early on, that cloth face masks are effective in fighting the spread of Covid-19 is the fact that many hospitals and nursing homes were requesting people in the community to make and donate face masks at home.

These medical facilities obviously wouldn't have been requesting homemade face masks if they didn't offer some protection to workers and patients.

Links to Official Information About Covid-19 and Face Masks

The information about the effectiveness of wearing facemasks to stop the spread of disease, for both the wearer and others nearby, was, however, available online through FDA documents the entire time and has been recently updated here.

The CDC has since changed that stance officially to let people know that cloth facemasks do slow and stop the spread of this virus.

The Galion City Schools are announcing an update about providing face shields, and I wanted to share a link to that information, too.

Thanks for visiting Galionite today, and I hope you found this Ohio Coronavirus and face mask mandate information helpful. Be sure to visit us on Facebook or bookmark this site so you can easily return for frequent updates about things that are going on in Galion and the surrounding area.

What Can Galionites Do to Help Stop the Spread of Coronavirus?

Helping to stop the rapid spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) means taking a few measures to protect yourself on a personal level in order to also protect everyone else in the community. You've probably seen most of these tips numerous times at this point if you've been online or watched the news, but the reasoning behind everyone wearing face masks is newer.

Stop the Spread of Coronavirus Image by Ri Butov from Pixabay

Wear a Facemask to Help Stop the Spread of Coronavirus

~~For the past couple of days, the CDC has been in the news for considering making the recommendation that all Americans wear face masks when going out in public.~~ Updated 4/3/2020:

The CDC is now recommending that Americans wear face masks when going out in public to reduce the spread of coronavirus. It is currently optional, though some states have already made it mandatory. ~~The requirement is likely to be announced in the next few days given the importance of it.~~ The reason behind that is that they believe it will help slow the spread of coronavirus and reduce the number of deaths from it.

“One of the [pieces of] information that we have pretty much confirmed now is that a significant number of individuals that are infected actually remain asymptomatic,” CDC director Dr. Robert Redfield told NPR on Tuesday.

That may be as many as 25 percent. That’s important, because now you have individuals that may not have any symptoms that can contribute to transmission, and we have learned that in fact they do contribute to transmission,” he added."

Since medical professionals are facing a shortage of PPE, the best way to get a facemask is by making one or having someone you know make one or two for you.
Another way is to order them on an auction site, such as eBay, where facilities like the Galion hospital, Avita, wouldn't be shopping for PPE anyway - if they were, by the way, they would find numerous boxes in quantities ranging from 50 to 500 and numerous styles and thicknesses of handcrafted masks.

No one is suggesting you run out and buy the masks that hospital workers need, and part of the CDC's hesitation to make this announcement falls back to the tendency people have to hoard and panic-buy. So, don't go buy masks from a hospital supplier - but do make one or find someone to make one for you.

Homemade ones are more stylish and visually appealing anyway - no reason you can't look good while protecting yourself and everyone else from COVID-19.

If you use a homemade cotton mask. clean it properly after each use. Sanitize it by laundering and steaming or hot-ironing it. If you use disposable masks, remove them properly and dispose of them so nothing and no one else can touch them. Wash hands carefully after removing masks.

Never share masks that have been worn with someone else - to avoid the spread of contagions.

You may have also heard that surgical masks and homemade face masks don't protect the person wearing them, only others around the wearer - however - common sense dictates that isn't 100 percent factual. If they did nothing to protect the wearer, hospital workers wouldn't wear them to protect themselves, and the FDA agrees, though note that the protection isn't complete.

While the main point of wearing surgical-style masks, including homemade face masks, is to protect others from anything contagious you may be carrying, such as coronavirus, they do also offer the wearer some protection, according to the FDA,

"If worn properly, a surgical mask is meant to help block large-particle droplets, splashes, sprays, or splatter that may contain germs (viruses and bacteria), keeping it from reaching your mouth and nose. Surgical masks may also help reduce exposure of your saliva and respiratory secretions to others."

So, if you're wearing a mask and someone sneezes or coughs nearby, you're safer than you would be without a face mask.

Protect Yourself and Others From COVID-19 by Keeping Your Distance

I'm so sick of the phrase social distancing - I hate to even use it; however, what they call it is irrelevant. COVID-19 spreads through the air around an infected person for several feet.

Honestly, I doubt the six-foot rule that's currently in play is enough, based on an interview I read where the doctor being interviewed said spittle from sneezing and coughing goes out about 10 feet before falling downward - and from an episode of Myth Busters I watched long ago - but no one asked me.

So, keep your distance from others when you go out for food and necessities to protect others and yourself.

Wash Your Hands a Lot

We've all been hearing how important it is to wash your hands since we were kids. Well, it's more important than ever now that we're facing down a highly contagious pandemic virus.

Any time you touch anything that another person has touched or breathed on, make time to wash up - oh - and don't touch your face. That's surprisingly hard, but the good news is, wearing a mask can help remind you by making you aware when you reach up to touch your face.

Use Hand Sanitizer and Wipe Off Shopping Carts

Hand washing is best, but when you can't get to soap and water, hand sanitizer can help protect you.

Wiping off shopping cart handles can also offer some protection from a frequently touched germ-spreader. It's a really good idea to tuck an alcohol-based wet-wipe in a plastic sandwich bag to take with you when you have to go to the store - in case the store you visit doesn't provide wipes or have someone wiping carts off for you,

Basically, you need to do a few common sense things to protect yourself and others from the risk of coronavirus. when you're out and about in Galion and the surrounding communities.

Thanks for reading, and be safe when you're out and about in the community. Also, be kind. This is an unusual time and everyone, not just you, is under more stress than normal, so a little extra kindness can go a long way.

Sources:

Warmer Weather, Gray Skies, and So Far No Coronavirus in Galion

Here it is Friday, March 20, 2020 and the air is warm and springlike outside - 66 degrees as I write this, to be precise. The sky's looking pretty gray and it's windy, but the warm weather is a mood booster (for me anyway) in spite of the gloomy skies.

Galionite COVID-19 Social Distancing Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Galion Coronavirus Update

Checking back in with an update on the two Galionites who were recently tested for Coronavirus.

The tests results for these two individuals came back negative, according to an article in the Bucyrus Telegraph Forum. This is such great news for the people involved and for the community, though realistically, the virus is likely to make an appearance in the Galion area sometime soon.

Precautions are still needed, in that we're still being asked to keep a safe distance from others, wash hands frequently and use hand sanitizer when soap and water aren't an option, and not touch our faces. (Good, common-sense advice for avoiding disease any time really.)

Recent Coronavirus Closings

Since my last update post, Ohio has placed a few more bans due to coronavirus, in hopes of stopping its spread - including hair salons, tattoo parlors, nail salons, and the BMV - except for CDL-related transactions.

The BMV closing for coronavirus was a surprise, because I haven't seen any updates about what people who need to renew driver's licenses, who need first-time permits and licenses, and those who need to get State IDs are supposed to do - or if affected drivers will be allowed to drive without being ticketed until the BMV reopens.

Galion Weekend Weather Forecast

So, as we head into what looks to be a dull weekend because pretty much everything is closed, I find myself glad I'm a writer because I have plenty to do - and wondering what everyone else is doing. It's pretty muddy from teh recent rain, so yard work would be challenging, though the weekend weather is predicted to be pleasant - a touch chilly with a high of 35 degrees Saturday and 46 degrees on Sunday, but no rain forecasted until Monday.

Comments are welcome if you want to chat about coronavirus, things to do, the weather, or anything else. The comments section is open below each post here on the Galionite website.

The Ides of March in Galion

Sorry (but not really sorry) for the Caesar-inspired title. I just realized how badly I had been ignoring this blog with no newsy posts since back during the Oktoberfest.

Coronavirus News for Galionites

So, a lot's going on in the world, and in Galion as of the Ides of March 2020.

Coronavirus News: Pandemic Virus Visits Galion?

Coronavirus - there were two possible cases in Galion, announced by the city's Health Department on their Facebook page. I haven't seen any kind of update on the results of the tests - like many - I'm waiting to hear what the test results said. Hopefully, there will be an update tomorrow, with Monday being a business day - if I hear, I'll share it here on Galionite.

Schools Closed for Rest of March

School closings - This one also goes back to coronavirus. Governor DeWine announced Ohio schools are closed until at least the end of March, after tomorrow (Monday) - but he later said he thinks it's possible the schools are going to be closed for the remainder of the school year.

Bars and Restaurants Closed

This is another one that goes back to the pandemic virus known as coronavirus or COVID-19 - in fact - pretty much all the news lately is in one way or another linked to coronavirus. Better stock up on beer and wine... As of 9:00PM tonight, March 15, 2020, all restaurants and bars in Ohio are closing due to coronavirus. Only take-out and drive-through service is permitted.

Is Coronavirus Political? Seriously?

So, there's a lot of craziness going on in the world, and a lot of people are trying to turn this virus into part of a political game, though there's no clear line as to which side is for or against .. what... I don't know... but, here's hoping that we, as Galionites, can rise above the pettiness of politics as we care for and protect those who are the most vulnerable among us.

I'll keep updates coming as time allows - and I'll share information about those who are reaching out to help others during this challenging time.